Permanently Setting Line Numbers in Vim on Linux and Windows

As an experienced SEO, this article is designed to guide you through setting up line numbers in Vim, a powerful text editor highly favored by programmers and developers due to its flexibility and efficiency. We'll provide comprehensive instructions on how to configure Vim to display line numbers permanently on both Linux and Windows systems. For more such topics and tips, visit AIPylinux and engage with our community of Linux, AI, and Python enthusiasts.

Setting Line Numbers in Vim on Linux

Setting the display of line numbers in Vim is a simple task that can be performed via the configuration file. This is particularly useful for developers who benefit from an immediate visual aid to navigate through long and complex code files.

Step 1: Open the Vim Configuration File

Open your terminal. Use the command sudo vi /etc/vim/vimrc.

This command will open the Vim configuration file with root permissions. The vimrc file is essential for customizing Vim to your preferences.

Step 2: Add the Line Number Command

Scroll to the end of the file and add the following line:

: : set number

Once you've added the line, press ESC to exit command mode and enter normal mode.

Then, type :wq and press Enter. This saves and closes the file. Consequently, Vim will now display line numbers whenever you open a file.

Setting Line Numbers in Vim on Windows

For Windows users, the process is more straightforward since the configuration file resides in a different directory than on Linux.

Step 1: Locate the Vim Configuration File

The file in Windows is named _vimrc and is located in the user profile directory. Before we proceed, let's first ensure the file exists. If it doesn't, you need to create one. You can easily navigate to your user profile directory by typing the following command in the command prompt:

cd %APPDATA%vimvimrcs

If the directory does not exist, create it using:

mkdir %APPDATA%vimvimrcs

Create the _vimrc file by running the following command:

type nul > %APPDATA%vimvimrcs_vimrc

Step 2: Add the Line Number Command

In the same directory where you created the _vimrc file, open it and add the following line:

set number

Save the file and exit. Now, Vim will display line numbers in the editor whenever a file is opened.

Conclusion

Configuring Vim to display line numbers can greatly enhance productivity and code readability. Whether you're working on a Linux or Windows system, the steps outlined in this guide will help you achieve this setting effortlessly. If you have further questions about Linux, AI, or Python, make sure to visit our community at AIPylinux.